The son of a family with strong Franco-American roots, Don learned the value of resilience and a ”can do” attitude from a young age. Having worked through chronic health issues from the beginning, he held a lifelong determination to participate fully in whatever he could.

He learned from the legacy of his parents, who were both actively involved in community organizations.

He then made a name for himself through a 45+ year career in the hairstyling profession where he, his father and brother transformed a classic barbershop into a thriving, innovative salon which he ultimately bought and ran independently.

When asked about a momentous event in his life, he cites not the life altering 2021 spinal cord injury he had while vacationing in Hawaii.  He immediately responds, “the best thing that ever happened to me is my wife Debbi.”